Father Francis replied, by commanding the appearance of Don Ferdinand’s steward, and after the customary formula, inquired what hour his late lamented master had quitted his mansion the night of the murder.  The man replied, without hesitation, “Exactly as the chimes played the quarter before nine.”

“But was not that unusually early?  The hour of meeting at the castle was ten, and the distance from Don Ferdinand’s mansion not twenty minutes’ ride, and scarce forty minutes’ walk.  Are you perfectly certain as to the hour?”

“I can take my oath upon it, your Reverence, and Lopez will say the same.  Our sainted master (Jesu rest his soul!) called to him a few minutes before he entered my lady’s room, and told him not to get his horse ready, as he should walk to the castle.  Lopez asked as to who should attend him, and his reply was he would go alone.  He had done so before, and so we were not surprised; but we were grieved at his look, for it seemed of suffering, unlike himself, and were noticing it to each other as he passed us, after quitting my lady, and so quickly and so absorbed, that he did not return our salutation, which he never in all his life neglected to do before.  My poor, poor master! little did we think we should never see him again!” And the man’s unconstrained burst of grief excited anew the indignation of the spectators against the crime, till then almost forgotten, in the intense interest as to the fate of the accused.  Lopez was called, and corroborated the steward’s account exactly.

“If he left his house at a quarter before nine, at what hour, think you, he would reach the Calle Soledad?”

From ten to fifteen minutes past the hour, your Reverence, unless detained by calling elsewhere on his way.”

“Did he mention any intention of so doing?” The answer was in the negative.  “According to this account, then, the murder must have taken place between nine and ten; and Senor Stanley was not heard to quit his apartment till eleven.  This would corroborate his own assertion, that the deed was committed ere he reached the spot.”

“But what proof have we that Don Ferdinand was not detained on his way?” replied the chief of the Santa Hermandad.  “His domestics assert no more than the hour of his quitting the house.”

“The hour of the royal meeting was ten,” rejoined the Sub-Prior; “he was noted for regularity, and was not likely to have voluntarily lingered so long, as not even to reach the Calle till one hour afterwards.”

“Not voluntarily; but we have heard that he appeared more suffering than he was ever seen to do.  His illness might have increased, and so cause detention; and yet, on even partial recovery, we know him well enough to believe he would still have endeavored to join his Highness.”

“He would; but there is evidence that when brought to the castle, he had been dead at the very least three hours.  Let Curador Benedicto come forward.”